"The ExtraSchicht – The Long Night of Industrial Heritage” welcomes visitors,
for the 5th year in succession, to an exciting journey of discovery with
cultural events and temporary illuminations to the Ruhr area. On 4th June 2005
the industrial monuments of the “Route of Industrial Heritage” open their gates
for a varied programme between 18.00 and 02.00 o'clock.

Starting at four “hubs” visitors travelling by public transport can reach
more than thirty events across the Ruhr region. The ERIH network takes part in
the ExtraSchicht. At the ERIH Anchor Point and World Heritage Colliery of
Zollverein in Essen, the ERIH project and its new launched website will be
presented to the public for the first time. A professional agency has developed
the presentation using state of the art projection and sound technology.

The ExtraSchicht is a mega event of the “Route of Industrial Heritage”, which
was the model for the ERIH project. The route, opened in 1999, makes the
industrial heritage of the Ruhr Area accessible on an approximately 400 km round
course.

The signed main route links 25 of the best sites of industrial heritage such
as coal-mines, blast furnaces, gasholders, manufacturers' mansions, industrial
and social historical museums (See map). It leads through important workers´
colonies and to nine viewpoints offering impressive panoramas of the industrial
landscape.

Approximately 1,500 traffic signs at motorways and local roads show the
visitors from at home and abroad their way to the industrial heritage
highlights. These are not only important witnesses of the 150 years industrial
past of the Ruhr Area, but also have developed into “lively” industrial heritage
areas and unique venues for events with special attraction for tourists.

Three anchor points represent the industrial history of the Ruhr area within
the ERIH network: the World Heritage Colliery and Coking Plant Zollverein in
Essen, the Landscape Park Duisburg-North and the Coal-Mine Zollern II/IV in
Dortmund.

From these Anchor Points the "Route of the Industrial Heritage" leads into
the Ruhr area, which is integrated as a Regional Route into the European ERIH
structure.